Manufacturer of bicycle saddles as well as accessories for the BMX and Japanese Keirin bicycle racing market.

History

Kashima Saddle Manufacturing was started in 1936 by Kashima Kingo who
was producing
leather bicycle saddles before WWII both for Japan and the world. The
company really took off when Tetsuo, Kashima’s son, came up with a new
seat design for BMX bikes, the legendary Aero BMX. However, as times
changed, competition increased and BMX’s popularity dwindled from a
hyped trend to a hobby and sub-culture.

In response, the current president and grandson of Kingo, Eijiro
Kashima, developed the Kashimax 5-Gold saddle specifically for the
Japanese Keirin bicycle racing market. Designed with input from 10 time
World Track Bike Champion Koichi Nakano and famous Keirin bicycle maker
Yoshiaki Nagasawa, the Kashimax 5-Gold reinvigorated the company.
Kashimax Saddle is now the sole supplier of racing seats to professional
Keirin racers both in Japan and Korea, and is the last bicycle saddle
maker still manufacturing their product in Japan.